Strain Effect Triggers Pt Adaptive Mechanism to Construct Brønsted Acid Microenvironment for Ampere‐Level Hydrogen Production From Alkaline Seawater

N Nianpeng Li (Institute of International Rivers and Eco‐Security Yunnan Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection and Resource Utilization of River‐lake Networks Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes School of Ecology and Environmental Science Yunnan University Kunming China) L Linfeng Xiao (Institute of International Rivers and Eco‐Security Yunnan Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection and Resource Utilization of River‐lake Networks Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes School of Ecology and Environmental Science Yunnan University Kunming China) A Anran Chen (Institute of International Rivers and Eco‐Security Yunnan Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection and Resource Utilization of River‐lake Networks Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes School of Ecology and Environmental Science Yunnan University Kunming China) H Hua Zhang H Hao Cheng X Xuguang An Q Qingquan Kong (School of Mechanical Engineering Chengdu University Chengdu China) Y Yingjie Feng (Department of Catalytic Science SINOPEC (Beijing) Research Institute of Chemical Industry Co., Ltd Beijing China) W Weiping Liu (Key Laboratory of Sustainable Low-carbon Technologies for Textile Dyeing and Finishing, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering) Q Qimeng Liu (State Key Laboratory for Safe Mining of Deep Coal Resources and Environment Protection School of Materials Science and Engineering School of Earth and Environment Anhui University of Science and Technology Huainan China) L Lei Zhang W Wen Liu Y Yingtang Zhou (Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Environmental Pollution Control, National Engineering Research Center for Marine Aquaculture) X Xiaobo Chen X Xue Zhao G Guangzhi Hu Y Ying Wu

Abstract

ABSTRACT Intermittent renewable energy‐driven seawater hydrogen production can alleviate freshwater resource pressure and is of great significance in future energy systems. However, the localized microenvironment changes at the cathode and the strong interactions between other impurities and the electrolyzer lead to performance degradation and reduced equipment lifespan. Here, we report an alkaline seawater cathode catalyst for hydrogen production in an anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE). This catalyst can dynamically adjust the local reaction environment on the cathode surface. Through the reversible changes in the oxidation state of Pt in high‐entropy intermetallic compounds, a Brønsted acid‐like environment is formed near the reaction interface, inhibiting the formation of precipitates. In situ characterization confirmed that this Brønsted acid‐like environment can promote hydrogen production from alkaline seawater. Using alkaline seawater electrolysis, AEMWE operated stably for over 2000 h at an industrial‐grade current density of 1.0 A cm −2 (1.74 V).

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 1, Issue 1
Published July 11, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (17)

N

Nianpeng Li

Institute of International Rivers and Eco‐Security Yunnan Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection and Resource Utilization of River‐lake Networks Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes School of Ecology and Environmental Science Yunnan University Kunming China

L

Linfeng Xiao

Institute of International Rivers and Eco‐Security Yunnan Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection and Resource Utilization of River‐lake Networks Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes School of Ecology and Environmental Science Yunnan University Kunming China

A

Anran Chen

Institute of International Rivers and Eco‐Security Yunnan Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection and Resource Utilization of River‐lake Networks Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes School of Ecology and Environmental Science Yunnan University Kunming China

H

Hua Zhang

H

Hao Cheng

X

Xuguang An

Q

Qingquan Kong

School of Mechanical Engineering Chengdu University Chengdu China

Y

Yingjie Feng

Department of Catalytic Science SINOPEC (Beijing) Research Institute of Chemical Industry Co., Ltd Beijing China

W

Weiping Liu

Key Laboratory of Sustainable Low-carbon Technologies for Textile Dyeing and Finishing, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Q

Qimeng Liu

State Key Laboratory for Safe Mining of Deep Coal Resources and Environment Protection School of Materials Science and Engineering School of Earth and Environment Anhui University of Science and Technology Huainan China

L

Lei Zhang

W

Wen Liu

Y

Yingtang Zhou

Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Environmental Pollution Control, National Engineering Research Center for Marine Aquaculture

X

Xiaobo Chen

X

Xue Zhao

G

Guangzhi Hu

Y

Ying Wu